The days after the events started to look the same, she was not allowed to leave her chambers. He had stopped telling her that she was not allowed out of bed, because he knew that she would not listen to this and got out as soon as he left. But the one thing she insisted on was being there for Simret's funeral, she was the one who placed him alone on that post. To be fair the corridor was too small for two persons standing guard there and Fitsum and Sennay were bedridden for days after their encounter with her brother. But they had minor injuries, just like her. Simret was dead, and there was nothing they could do about that. Zeudi had spent days making his funeral cloths, something only close family member in Samala were allowed to do. But then again, although she respected the traditions of the villages and cities, they were in the capital now and they were some kind of family. So even if one of the witch doctors out of Samala had anything to say about it, she was able to say all of this. Idris came into the room when she finished up the last stitch of the red line surrounding the cloth. "Looks good sweetheart, he would have loved it." Idris said. "He always loved getting new clothes, above getting new weapons." She gave him a smile, over the days he had shared little pieces of information about Simret, some things she knew other things she did not. But she loved the way he talked about him. He really cared for his men."How are Fitsum and Sennay?" She asked. Because they were not allowed out of bed and she was not allowed to leave her chambers to see them. Idris cracked a smile and shook his head. "Both are doing fine, blaming themselves for not protecting you properly." Idris said. "Sennay has tried to get out of bed a few times, only for Aranachi to set him straight. She reminds me a little bit of you." Zeudi started to giggle, this was not the first time he said that to her."She is the sister I never got to have." She replied, the giggle stopped soon after. "Have you seen my father?" He nodded and sighed. "He is fine, he knew that you had to take your brother's life. He knew that there was something to be done about him anyway. But he is not able to make decisions anymore, even those stubborn nobles are saying this much." Idris said and lowered her head, Idris has worked hard the last couple of days. Attending the funeral of Armana, sitting through hour long meetings with nobles, talking with the servants and making all kinds of decisions. She loved him for all of this, and the fact that he never complained about any of this. Maybe he recolonizes that this is only a glimpse of the future they are going to have. Only a glimpse, from a future that is not that far off. "A few even said that we might get married and crowned the day after Simret's funeral." Which was the day after tomorrow. She looked up in horror, alright she could live with the wedding. She was the one who introduced him as her fiancée. But a coronation? No that was not something she had seen coming. Her father was still breathing and physically in good health, but it was the mental part that played the role in this matter and that was something she was able to see. "They even said that everything is ready, from the wedding dress, to the crowns and all that stuff." "The nobles love to come prepared, well let's wait until after the funeral. Is the witch doctor here?" She asked and he nodded. "That old fart is here, and he those not shut up about the fact that he can not believe we had chosen this path. The path of stealing and cheating our way through life. But when I point out that I am the next consort he simply tells me that he starts believing that when he sees the crown upon my head. He states that you still can change your mind." Idris said. Which was true, she still could."But I do not want to change my mind." She said. He smiled at her, she sighed. "Well it is time for me to go to bed, and wait for the dinner to arive." She lay the funaral cloth on the table and climbed into bed.******The morning of the funeral came, name witch doctor, the witch doctor had thanked her for the cloth. Remarking that he had no idea how he got passed that part of the ceremony. Which was not that difficult, Zeudi thought for a brief moment to her former personal guard, but she was not going to say that to the man. All members of her personal guard and even some members of her father's guard were present. The witch doctor prayed to name. Goddess of death to take care off Simret. Saying some spells she had many times, to many times. Then it was the turn towards the clostest female family member, to throw a (look up the name of the starflower.) into the grave. And because there was not such family member she filled in the role. Then the male family member needed to close the grave. That role was for the member of her personal guard. One more spell was cast, to prevent that a rogue witch doctor could controle the death body. Which apperently had happened one point in time, this was something she had not known. Arsema never bothered explaining the many spells to Zeudi, because she was not able to use them. But the witch doctor from Salama thought differntly. "Your highness, it is an honor to meet you once again. In my minds eye I still saw you as the little girl that visited my village so many years ago." Name witch doctor said, when they left the graveyard. She looked at him and smiled. "You mean the time that I got to meet my fiancee an Simret for the first time." She said with a smile. Name looked flustered. "Yes Idris told me that you hope that I will change my mind." "Princess, I did not meant to be rude. It is just..." name said. But Zeudi raised her hand to stop him."It was rude, although you might not agree with the path Simret and Idris choose to take. That path let them both back to me. Simret died in serves of the crown, and Idris will become my husband." She said. "And there is nothing anybody could do to change these two facts." Witch doctor nodded. "You have grown into a fine young woman, princess. And if the rumors are true you will marry Idris tomorrow." Witch doctor said. The rumors were true, the nobles had told her this much before she left the palace. "They are true, I am sorry to say." She said. Before the man could ask her why she replied. "I do not know if I am ready to become queen." The eyebrows of the man shot up. "Princess, in my not so humble opinion, nobody is ready to take on that role. No matter how much they prepare for it. You have been leading this kingdom for a couple of months now. With Idris at your side, and you have done an amazing job so far. Do not loss faith in yourself or in Idris. Because you are right, his path has brought him back to you. Thank the gods for that." Witch doctor replied to her. She gave him a smile. "Glad to know that there are so many of you have faith in me." She replied."I think it his healthy to doubt yourself, before taking on this role." witch doctor said. "I personally are look forward to tomorrow. One of the bastards I helped raise is getting married." ******** The next morning came to fast, Arachni was buzing around her helping into her wedding dress. Later a red mantle would be added onto it."Zeudi, you look stunning." Arachni said, with a large grin on her face. "Idris is such a luck man." "And he better know it." Her father's voice echoed through her chambers. This was th firts time she had seen him since that faithfull day. But was looking good in his formal robes. Which she would have told him, if her voice had not left her. Tears started to well up, and her father sighed. "I know, I have hurt you by not coming to you sooner." She was shaking her head. He was grieving the death of a child, which she completly understood. "Come with me child, it is time for you to get married." He took her by the hand and guided her through the hallways. "I am sorry about your friend, Simret." Her father said. "I know also know that Armana wasn't his first victum, but I am somewhere glad that Simret was his last." She also had heard the news that Woldu had killed everybody that in his eyes failed him. Armana was apperently no exception to that rule. "Dad, I do not know what to say about this. He was your son." She said. And her brother, but that fact sends shivers down her spine. Her father did not remark on it as well. "No the man you killed was no longer my son. My son dies years ago, together with his mother." He replied with a sigh. "She would have loved to be here, and to meet your rogue." "She has met him, on our first mission together. And she is with use, in a way." She said, he father's smile came back. "Thank you for that." He said. He stopped and turned to look at her. "You look so much like her on our wedding day. It does not help that you are wearing her wedding dress." So that is were those nobles got the dress from. "So now it is time for me to give you away." She looked at the doors of the throne room, they opened up under the sound of trumpets. She cluthed her fathers sleeve. He started to walk and she followed him, her chest tightend and breathing was not an easy feet. However this all faded towards the background, once she locked eyes with Idris. From that moment on it was like she was walking on clouds. He was wearing his personal guard uniform, without the cape. Had nobody bothered to give him a formal robes. It did not matter, he was looking good in it. Idris took her hand and leand towards her. "You look beautifull." He said."You do are not to bad to look at either." She said a bit to loud. Some in the hall were laughing. Palace witch doctor cleared his throat and started the long list of well wishes and of course the vows. During this time she had only eyes for Idris. She was marrying the rogue that stole her heart. "Well now we have the beautifull part out of the way, let's go to the more serious." Palace witch doctor said. Arachni and a member of her father's personal guard rushed forward, both of them were holding red mantles. Arachni placed the mantle over Zeudi's wedding dress. Idris's mantle hung were the white suposed to be. He took her by the hand and both of them walked towards the thrones. Turned around to face the crowed. "These chairs are your seats of power. Will you respect this power and use it to protect the people of Cidor?""We will." Both of them said. Now her father walked towards Idris. "Idris, this crown stands for your responsibilty. Will you wear it?" Her father said."I will." Idris replied. Her father placed the crown on Idris's head. Now he took the crown that would rest upon her head."Zeudi, this crown stands for your responsibilty. Will you wear it?" Her father repeated the qeustion."I will." She replied. Ans he placed the crown on her head. He turned towards the crowed. "Ladies and gentlemen, I give you your new queen and her consort!" Her father said loud."Long live the queen and he consort."

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